Jim Woodard

The light at the end of the tunnel is so bright it’s almost blinding. Home sales are in an upward trend, and mortgage financing is easier to obtain. Progress is slow but clearly positive. After months of stagnant activity, pending ...

There is a growing trend for young adults to leave their rural and suburban communities to move to cities. Most career opportunities are based in cities, and young people want to be close to the action. Some suburbs have seen ...

Consumers generally are showing greater optimism in the housing market this spring, according to Fannie Mae’s 2014 National Housing Survey. In the recent poll of 1,000 people, 38 percent say it’s a good time to sell a home, up from ...

In a new survey commissioned by the National Association of Home Builders, it was determined what features are most popular with homeowners in today’s market. Builders from across the country were surveyed on what features they were most likely to ...

The Senate Banking Committee is finalizing housing-finance reform legislation, and will present it to the full Senate on April 29. “After canvassing other members of the committee, we plan to schedule our recommendations for our plan for a bipartisan housing-finance ...

One of the most frequent questions asked at this point relates to future home prices. Consumers want to know if this is a strategic time to sell their residences or if the time is right to purchase a home. The ...

Homebuyers may soon face a growing problem of lack of available homes in their local markets. One key reason for the low inventory is the super-low rates many owners enjoyed when they refinanced their properties. Homeowners who refinanced when fixed ...

In recent weeks, several reports have noted that the housing market has returned to a “normal” level of activity. It’s time to focus on a highly credible source of information – the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The ...

Homebuyers are changing their priorities when selecting neighborhoods for their new homes. Instead of size and special amenities, buyers want conveniences within walking distance and shorter commuting time. Homebuyers are increasingly showing their desire for walkable neighborhoods that combine a ...

Finally we are seeing solid signs of improvement in the availability of mortgage loans. According to a survey from Fannie Mae, credit availability is improving. For the first time in more than three years, the majority of consumers believe it’s ...